The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-29
AN AYENGER DIES IN PRISON
The Strange History of Once Promi-
nent Man Whose Life Ends a Cell.
Irnatius Buchanan's Pursuit and Atrocious
Murder in This City. TwentyOne Years
Ago, of His Beautiful Runaway Wife.

IGnatius Buchanan. who was sentenced to i'm
prisonment for life for numbering his wife in
this city, in 1866, died the Jacksonville pen-
Tertiary yesterday morning, after brief illness
of typhoid fever He was seventy years of age
and had been IN prison twenty-cne years. His
history partakes of romance and tragedy to an
extraordinary degree.
He was born at Charleston. South Carolina In
1917. His father wealthy man. and he re-
ceived classical education at Greenwood Col
lege At early age he took an active part in
politics, and was q delegate to the convention
which nominated Stephen A. Douglas for the
presidency In the midst of the fierce debate
which took place that memorable occasion.
Buchanan made a speech which was considered
brilliant effort. When the broke out he
served with distinction in the confederate army,
and was one of Longstreets bravest men. In
1868 he left the service on account of physical
disability, and went TO Louisville with his young
wife, who, beautiful woman WAS the daughter
of Senator Richards. He purchased the River
side Hotel, which he managed for one year, and
was very successful
In 1864. Grant Guyer, a wealthy young sport
ing man, engaged board with Buchanan He
was very handsome, of pleasing address, great
favorlte with the ladies'. and spent his money
freely. The young man was particularly atten-
tive to the beautiful Mrs. Buchanan, and she
was not averse to bis advances. They took
long drives went to the theaters together, and
were almost constantly in each others society
Buchanan loved his wife devotedly that he
hardly seemed to realize what was going OF
under his very eyes. and when they eoped
together the blow fell with crush
ing force Hastily selling all of his
property, Buchanan sent his children
TO friends in the South and started in pursuit or
the guilty pair. He followed them to Sacra-
mento City, and learned that they had left for
Canada. He then turned his course toward the
British possessions and arrived there only to
learn that they had just leit for New Orleans.
In the Crescent City he was Informed that they
had the day before left for Mexico Still the
vengeful husband was not discouraged and con-
tinued the search with unwavering zeal. AT
last. on Jan. a. 1866. he came upon them IN
room In this city. where they were stopping as
husband and wife He told them that their last
moment had come. and drawing a long, glltterlng
knife from his pocket he told them tauntingly
that he proposed to cut both of them to
pieces. Guyer sprang through the second-story
window and escaped, but the woman was pow
eriess to move, and falling upon her knees
begged her husband TO snare ner lie TOR the
sake of their children. Her entreaties fell upon
deaf ears. and the knife was buried IN her heart
The now frenzied husband hacked her body to
pieces and placed the bloody fragments in
cooking-stove. He afterward walked ceolly
down stairs, after washing his blood stained
hands in a basin, and began drinking heartily.
In an hour he was rnaudlin drunk, and while
in this condition he told the police Of his awful
crime, and seemed gloat over its atroclty.
When be was tried IN March some of the jury
believed him TO be insane. and for this reason
he was not hanged, but sentenced to i'm
pr'sonment for life. During the twenty one
years he prisoner the authorities consid-
cred him mildly insane, and he was allowed the
freedom of the yard without performing any
manual labor. He spent most of his time in
training goat. which he called Julia after
favorte daughter. He read all of the daily pa
pers, and was uncommoniy we'll posted man,
politically.
He refused to attend religious services. AL
though il was against the rules he managed to
have good supply of whisky on hand. and was
nearly always drunk
About two weeks ago he was taken ill of ty-
phoid fever. and his decline rapid. Almost
the breath left him he murmured Julia" in
husky whisper. and then was dead. He has
son living in Birmingham. Ala.